Sensing device including a first electrode receiving a first driving signal and a second electrode receiving a second driving signal

ABSTRACT

A sensing device includes a touch panel including first and second sensor electrodes, and a touch panel controller acquiring a sensing signal from the touch panel and detecting a user input based on the sensing signal. The touch panel controller acquires the sensing signal from at least one of the first sensor electrodes and the second sensor electrodes in a first mode operating at a first power. The touch panel controller selects a first transmitting electrode, a second transmitting electrode, and receiving electrodes from one of the first sensor electrodes and the second sensor electrodes, inputs a first driving signal to the first transmitting electrode, and inputs a second driving signal having a phase difference of 180 degrees with respect to the first driving signal to the second transmitting electrode in a second mode operating at a second power and a third mode in which a sensing operation is performed.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.16/813,943 filed Mar. 10, 2020, which claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2019-0066785, filed on Jun. 5,2019 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosures ofwhich are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Exemplary embodiments of the present inventive concept relate to a touchpanel controller and a sensing device including the same.

DISCUSSION OF RELATED ART

As display devices have been miniaturized, interference between a touchpanel and a display panel included in display devices has increased.Accordingly, magnitudes of noise signals generated in display deviceshave also increased.

In a display device, noise signals flowing into a touch panel from adisplay panel may degrade sensing sensitivity, and noise signals flowinginto the display panel from the touch panel may degrade image quality.

SUMMARY

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept, asensing device includes a touch panel including a plurality of firstsensor electrodes and a plurality of second sensor electrodes, and atouch panel controller acquiring a sensing signal from the touch paneland detecting a user input based on the sensing signal. The touch panelcontroller acquires the sensing signal from at least one of theplurality of first sensor electrodes and the plurality of second sensorelectrodes in a first mode operating at a first power. The touch panelcontroller selects a first transmitting electrode, a second transmittingelectrode, and a plurality of receiving electrodes from one of theplurality of first sensor electrodes and the plurality of second sensorelectrodes, inputs a first driving signal to the first transmittingelectrode, and inputs a second driving signal to the second transmittingelectrode in a second mode operating at a second power lower than thefirst power, and a third mode in which a proximity sensing operation isperformed. The second power has a phase difference of 180 degrees withrespect to the first driving signal.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept, asensing device includes a first electrode receiving a first drivingsignal and a second electrode receiving a second driving signal, aplurality of third electrodes disposed between the first electrode andthe second electrode and extending in a direction that is the same asdirections of the first electrode and the second electrode, an electriccharge amplifier outputting a first voltage signal corresponding to achange in capacitance between a portion of the plurality of thirdelectrodes and the first electrode, and outputs a second voltage signalcorresponding to a change in capacitance between the other portion ofthe plurality of third electrodes and the second electrode, and aprocessor detecting a user input using the first voltage signal and thesecond voltage signal. The first driving signal and the second drivingsignal have a phase difference of 180 degrees therebetween.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept, atouch panel controller includes a sensing circuit driving a touch panelincluding a plurality of first sensor electrodes and a plurality ofsecond sensor electrodes, selecting a plurality of first receivingelectrodes, a plurality of second receiving electrodes, and at least oneshielding electrode from one of the plurality of first sensor electrodesand the plurality of second sensor electrodes, and acquiring a sensingsignal from among the plurality of first receiving electrodes and theplurality of second receiving electrodes, and a processor controllingthe sensing circuit and detecting a user input using the sensing signal.The shielding electrode is disposed between the plurality of firstreceiving electrodes and the plurality of second receiving electrodes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The above and other aspects and features of the present inventiveconcept will be more clearly understood by describing in detailexemplary embodiments thereof with reference to the accompanyingdrawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a sensing device including a touchpanel controller according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentinventive concept.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an operational mode of a sensing deviceaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating configuration of the touch panelcontroller of FIG. 1 according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentinventive concept;

FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram illustrating the touch panel controller ofFIG. 1 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present inventiveconcept.

FIGS. 5 and 6 are diagrams illustrating a method for driving a touchpanel with a touch panel controller according to exemplary embodimentsof the present inventive concept.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a method of removing a noise signal bya touch panel controller according to an exemplary embodiment of thepresent inventive concept.

FIGS. 8A to 8C are diagrams illustrating an effect of reducing thenumber of driving channels of a touch panel controller according toexemplary embodiments of the present inventive concept.

FIGS. 9 and 10 are diagrams illustrating a method of driving a touchpanel with a touch panel controller according to exemplary embodimentsof the present inventive concept.

FIGS. 11 to 13 are diagrams illustrating a method of driving a touchpanel with a touch panel controller according to exemplary embodimentsof the present inventive concept.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram illustrating an electronic device including asensing device according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentinventive concept.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Exemplary embodiments of the present inventive concept provide a touchpanel controller which may remove noise signals between a touch paneland a display panel and may significantly reduce power consumption, anda sensing device including the same.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present inventive concept willbe described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Likereference numerals may refer to like elements throughout thisapplication.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a sensing device including a touchpanel controller according to an exemplary embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 1 , a display device may include a touch panel 100, atouch panel controller 200, and a display panel 300. The touch panel 100and the touch panel controller 200 may be included in a sensing device.

The touch panel 100 may be disposed on an upper portion of the displaypanel 300 and may overlap the display panel 300. For example, the touchpanel 100 may be disposed in an upper portion of an image displaysurface of the display panel 300. FIG. 1 illustrates an example in whichthe touch panel 100 is spaced apart from the display panel 300, but theinventive concept is not limited thereto. For example, the touch panel100 may be integrated with the display panel 300.

The touch panel 100 may include at least one or more transparentsubstrates and a plurality of sensor electrodes 110 and 120 disposed onthe at least one or more transparent substrates. The plurality of sensorelectrodes 110 and 120 may be formed of a transparent conductivematerial such as indium tin oxide (ITO), zinc oxide (ZnO), indium zincoxide (IZO), a carbon nanotube, or the like, or may include an extremelythin metal pattern.

The plurality of sensor electrodes 110 and 120 may include a pluralityof first sensor electrodes 110 extending in a first direction DIR1 and aplurality of second sensor electrodes 120 extending in a seconddirection DIR2 perpendicular to the first direction DIR1, disposed onthe at least one or more transparent substrates.

In FIG. 1 , the first sensor electrodes 110 and the second sensorelectrodes 120 may have a matrix shape, but the shape is not limitedthereto. For example, the first sensor electrodes 110 and the secondsensor electrodes 120 may have various other shapes, such as a diamondshape, a circular shape, or the like.

The first sensor electrodes 110 may be electrically isolated from thesecond sensor electrodes 120. For example, the first sensor electrodes110 may be electrically isolated from the second sensor electrodes 120by being spaced apart from the second sensor electrodes 120 in a thirddirection DIR3 perpendicular to the first and second directions DIR1 andDIR2. In this case, a space between the first sensor electrodes 110 andthe second sensor electrodes 120 may be insulated using an insulatingmaterial such as silicon oxide or the like.

The touch panel controller 200 may be electrically connected to thetouch panel 100 and may transmit and receive various signals requiredfor detecting a user input. For example, when the sensing deviceoperates based on a mutual-capacitance method, the touch panelcontroller 200 may transmit a driving signal to at least one of thefirst sensor electrodes 110 and the second sensor electrodes 120 of thetouch panel 100, and may receive a sensing signal from at least one ofthe first sensor electrodes 110 and the second sensor electrodes 120.Additionally, when the sensing device operates based on aself-capacitance method, the touch panel controller 200 may receive asensing signal from at least one of the first sensor electrodes 110 andthe second sensor electrodes 120. In exemplary embodiments of thepresent inventive concept, the sensor electrodes receiving a drivingsignal may be referred to as transmitting electrodes TXE, and the sensorelectrodes outputting a sensing signal may be referred to as receivingelectrodes RXE.

The touch panel controller 200 may include an analog circuit, ananalog-digital converter, a processor, or the like, for transmitting andreceiving various signals for detecting a user input.

The display panel 300 may include a plurality of scan lines and aplurality of data lines. The display panel 300 may also include aplurality of pixels connected to the scan lines and the data lines. Thedisplay panel 300 may receive various driving signals via the scan linesand the data lines and may drive the plurality of pixels, to displayvarious images. The display panel 300 may include a liquid crystaldisplay (LCD), a light emitting diode (LED) display, an organic lightemitting diode (OLED) display, or the like.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an operational mode of a sensing deviceaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept.

Referring to FIG. 2 , an operational mode of a sending device mayinclude first to third modes of which operational timings are differentfrom one another depending on a level of driving power, a method ofdriving a sensor line (referred to interchangeably as “a sensorelectrode”), or the like.

In the first mode, the sensing device may be supplied with first powerP1 that is the same as or higher than a predetermined threshold valuePth, and may perform a sensing operation. In exemplary embodiments ofthe present inventive concept, the sensing device may perform thesensing operation based on a self-capacitance method. In this case, thesensing device may select a plurality of transmitting electrodes and aplurality of receiving electrodes from first sensor electrodes andsecond sensor electrodes.

In the first mode, a single frame period of the sensing device mayinclude an active section act1 and an inactive section inact1. In theactive section act1, the sensing device may detect whether a user inputoccurs and a position (a coordinate value) in which the user inputoccurs. In the inactive section inact1, the sensing device may notperform a sensing operation to reduce power consumption. In exemplaryembodiments of the present inventive concept, a time period t_(act1) ofthe active section act1 may be longer than a time period t_(inact1) ofthe inactive section inact1.

In the second mode, the sensing device may be supplied with second powerP2 that is less than the predetermined threshold value Pth, and mayperform a sensing operation. In exemplary embodiments of the presentinventive concept, the sensing device may perform a sensing operationbased on a self-capacitance method. In this case, the sensing device mayselect a plurality of transmitting electrodes and a plurality ofreceiving electrodes from one of the first sensor electrodes and thesecond sensor electrodes.

In the second mode, a single frame period of the sensing device mayinclude an active section act2 and an inactive section inact2. In theactive section act2, the sensing device may only detect whether a userinput occurs. In the inactive section inact2, the sensing device may notperform a sensing operation to reduce power consumption. In exemplaryembodiments of the present inventive concept, a time period t_(act2) ofthe active section act2 may be shorter than a time period t_(inact2) ofthe inactive section inact2.

In the third mode, the sensing device may perform a sensing operationbased on a self-capacitance method without a limitation in drivingpower. For example, the sensing device may be supplied with power thatis the same as or higher than the first power P1, and may perform aproximity sensing operation to acquire a hovering signal in which asignal-to-noise ratio (SNR) is at a maximum. In this case, the sensingdevice may select a plurality of transmitting electrodes and a pluralityof receiving electrodes from one of the first sensor electrodes and thesecond sensor electrodes.

In the third mode, a single frame period of the sensing device may onlyinclude an active section act3. During the active section act3, thesensing device may perform a proximity sensing operation. In theproximity sensing operation, a change in capacitance of the sensingdevice may be relatively small as compared to a touch sensing operation,and accordingly, it may be necessary to increase sensing sensitivity.Thus, in the third mode, the sensing device may lengthen a time periodt_(act3) of the active section act3 in which a sensing operation isperformed to be longer than the time periods t_(act1) and t_(act2) ofthe other modes, or may increase a magnitude of a driving signal.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the touchpanel controller of FIG. 1 according to an exemplary embodiment of thepresent inventive concept.

Referring to FIG. 3 , a touch panel controller 200 may include a sensingcircuit 210 and a processor 230.

The sensing circuit 210 may be electrically connected to the touch panel100 and may receive various signals required for detecting a user input.For example, when the sensing device operates based on amutual-capacitance method, the sensing circuit 210 may transmit adriving signal to a transmitting electrode TXE, and may receive asensing signal from a receiving electrode RXE. When the sensing deviceoperates based on a self-capacitance method, the sensing circuit 210 mayreceive a sensing signal from the receiving electrode RXE. In exemplaryembodiments of the present inventive concept, a driving signal may be asquare wave signal, and the sensing signal may be an electrical signalcorresponding to electric charge generated by the sensor electrodes.

The sensing circuit 210 may include a driver selecting a transmittingelectrode TXE and a receiving electrode RXE and transmitting a drivingsignal to the transmitting electrode TXE, an electric charge amplifierconverting electric charge generated in the receiving electrode RXE to avoltage signal and outputting the voltage signal, an analog-digitalconverter converting the voltage signal output from the electric chargeamplifier to a digital signal, and the like.

The processor 230 may control overall operations of the touch panelcontroller 200, may receive a digital signal from the sensing circuit210, and may detect whether a user input occurs, a position in which auser input occurs (a coordinate value), or the like. The processor 230may be implemented as a digital signal processor (DSP) or the like.

FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram illustrating the touch panel controller ofFIG. 1 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present inventiveconcept.

Referring to FIG. 4 , the touch panel controller 200 may include thesensing circuit 210 and the processor 230.

The sensing circuit 210 may include a driver 211, an electric chargeamplifier 213, an analog-digital converter 215, and a timing controller217.

The driver 211 may select at least one transmitting electrode TXE and atleast one receiving electrode RXE from among first sensor electrodes andsecond sensor electrodes. In exemplary embodiments of the presentinventive concept, the driver 211 may include a multiplexer MUX forselecting a transmitting electrode TXE and a receiving electrode RXE.

The driver 211 may input a driving signal to the transmitting electrodeTXE through a transmitter T_(X), and may receive a sensing signal fromthe receiving electrode RXE through a receiver R_(X). In exemplaryembodiments of the present inventive concept, a driving signal may be asquare wave voltage signal having a peak-to-peak V_(TX) of a certainlevel.

The electric charge amplifier 213 may include an operational amplifierAMP, a feedback resistor R_(FB), and a feedback capacitor C_(FB). Thefeedback resistor R_(FB) may be connected between an inverting inputterminal and an output terminal of the operational amplifier AMP, andthe feedback capacitor C_(FB) may be connected to the feedback resistorR_(FB) in parallel. A reference voltage V_(REF) having a certain levelmay be input to a non-inverting input terminal of the operationalamplifier AMP. In exemplary embodiments of the present inventiveconcept, the reference voltage V_(REF) may be a display noise signal VDNgenerated between the receiving electrode RXE and a common electrode ofa display panel. The electric charge amplifier 213 may perform anamplifying operation using the display noise signal VDN as the referencevoltage V_(REF), thus removing the display noise signal VDN. Thefeedback resistor R_(FB) and the feedback capacitor C_(FB) may perform afiltering function to remove a ripple element from a voltage signaloutput from the electric charge amplifier 213.

The analog-digital converter 215 may convert a voltage signal outputfrom the electric charge amplifier 213 to a digital signal, and mayoutput the digital signal.

In exemplary embodiments of the present inventive concept, the sensingcircuit 210 may further include a gain amplifier, such as a programmablegain amplifier (PGA), or an integrator, connected between an outputterminal of the electric charge amplifier 213 and an input terminal ofthe analog-digital converter 215, to secure a maximum dynamic range.

The sensing circuit 210 may further include an offset compensator 219connected to the inverting input terminal of the electric chargeamplifier 213 to remove an offset of electric charge generated by thereceiving electrode RXE to secure a maximum dynamic range.

The driver 211, the offset compensator 219, and the other elementsdescribed above may operate in accordance with timing signals TCON1 toTCON4 generated by the timing controller 217 under control of theprocessor 230.

The digital noise signal VDN, or a first noise signal VDN, flowing intothe touch panel 100 from the display panel may be generated due to afirst parasitic capacitance C_(S) element generated between thereceiving electrode RXE of the touch panel 100 and a common electrode ofthe display panel. The first noise signal VDN may decrease a magnitudeof a sensing signal output from the receiving electrode RXE and maydegrade sensing sensitivity.

A second noise signal VTN flowing into the display panel from the touchpanel 100 may be generated due to a second parasitic capacitance C_(D)element generated between the transmitting electrode TXE of the touchpanel 100 and a common electrode of the display panel. The second noisesignal VTN may degrade quality of an image of the display panel.

A mutual capacitance C_(M) formed between the receiving electrode RXEand the transmitting electrode TXE will be described in detail below.

A magnitude of each of the first noise signal VDN and the second noisesignal VTN may increase as a gap between the touch panel 100 and thedisplay panel decreases. Thus, the touch panel controller 200 may drivethe touch panel 100 differently depending on an operational mode of thesensing device to remove the first noise signal VDN and the second noisesignal VTN and to significantly reduce power consumption.

In the description below, a method of driving a touch panel by a touchpanel controller in accordance with an operational mode will bedescribed in more detail with reference to FIGS. 5 to 7 .

FIGS. 5 and 6 are diagrams illustrating a method for driving a touchpanel with a touch panel controller according to exemplary embodimentsof the present inventive concept. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating amethod of removing a noise signal by a touch panel controller accordingto an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept.

FIG. 5 illustrates a method of driving a touch panel 500 when a sensingdevice operates in the first mode, and FIG. 6 illustrates a method ofdriving a touch panel 600 when a sensing device operates in the secondmode and the third mode. In the exemplary embodiments of FIGS. 5 and 6 ,the sensing device may perform a sensing operation based on amutual-capacitance method.

Referring to FIG. 5 , when the sensing device operates in the firstmode, the touch panel controller 200 may select first sensor electrodes510 as transmitting electrodes TXE, and may select second sensorelectrodes 520 as receiving electrodes RXE.

The touch panel controller 200 may input a driving signal to thetransmitting electrodes TXE through a transmitter TX. Additionally, thetouch panel controller 200 may receive a sensing signal from thereceiving electrodes RXE through a receiver RX and may detect whether auser input occurs and a position (a coordinate value) in which the userinput occurs.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example in which the first sensor electrodes 510are the transmitting electrodes TXE and the second sensor electrodes 520are the receiving electrodes RXE, but the inventive concept is notlimited thereto. For example, the touch panel controller 200 may selectthe first sensor electrodes 510 as the receiving electrodes RXE and mayselect the second sensor electrodes 520 as the transmitting electrodesTXE.

Referring to FIG. 6 , when the sensing device operates in the secondmode or the third mode, the touch panel controller 200 may select atleast a pair of transmitting electrodes TXE+ and TXE− from one of firstsensor electrodes 610 and second sensor electrodes 620. Each pair of thetransmitting electrodes TXE+ and TXE− may include a first transmittingelectrode TXE+connected to a transmitter TX+ and a second transmittingelectrode TXE− connected to a transmitter TX−. A plurality of sensorelectrodes may be disposed between the first transmitting electrode TXE+and the second transmitting electrode TXE−.

The touch panel controller 200 may select a plurality of receivingelectrodes RXE+ and RXE− from among a plurality of sensor electrodesdisposed between the first transmitting electrode TXE+ and the secondtransmitting electrode TXE−. The plurality of receiving electrodes RXE+and RXE− may include a first receiving electrode RXE+ connected to areceiver RX+ and a second receiving electrode RXE− connected to areceiver RX−. The first receiving electrode RXE+ may form a mutualcapacitance C_(M) with an adjacent first transmitting electrode TXE+,and the second receiving electrode RXE− may form the mutual capacitanceC_(M) with an adjacent second transmitting electrode TXE−.

In exemplary embodiments of the present inventive concept, the touchpanel controller 200 may select at least one shielding electrodedisposed between the first transmitting electrode TXE+ and the secondtransmitting electrode TXE− to prevent the mutual capacitance C_(M) frombeing formed between the first transmitting electrode TXE+ and thesecond receiving electrode RXE− and between the second transmittingelectrode TXE− and the first receiving electrode RXE+. In an exemplaryembodiment of the present inventive concept, the touch panel controller200 may select at least one of the plurality of sensor electrodesdisposed between the first transmitting electrode TXE+ and the secondtransmitting electrode TXE− adjacent to the first transmitting electrodeTXE+, and may connect the selected sensor electrode to a ground power ormay float the selected sensor electrode, thus forming the shieldingelectrode.

The touch panel controller 200 may input a first driving signal IN1 tothe first transmitting electrode TXE+ through the transmitter TX+. Thetouch panel controller 200 may also input a second driving signal IN2,having a phase difference of 180 degrees with respect to the firstdriving signal IN1, to the second transmitting electrode TXE− throughthe transmitter TX−.

The touch panel controller 200 may remove the second noise signal VTNflowing into the display panel from the touch panel 600 due to thesecond parasitic capacitance C_(D) element by inputting the firstdriving signal IN1 and the second driving signal IN2 having a phasedifference of 180 degrees therebetween to each pair of the transmittingelectrodes TXE+ and TXE−. The touch panel controller 200 may also removethe first noise signal VDN flowing into the touch panel 600 from thedisplay panel due to the first parasitic capacitance C_(S) element byinputting the first driving signal IN1 and the second driving signal IN2having a phase difference of 180 degrees therebetween to each pair ofthe receiving electrodes RXE+ and RXE−.

The touch panel controller 200 may connect one of the first sensorelectrodes 610 and the second sensor electrodes 620, from which none ofthe transmitting electrodes TXE or the receiving electrodes RXE areselected, to a ground power or may float the sensor electrode, thussignificantly reducing an effect of non-driven sensor electrodesaffecting the transmitting electrodes TXE and the receiving electrodesRXE.

FIG. 6 illustrates an example in which the transmitting electrodes TXEand the receiving electrodes RXE are selected from among the secondsensor electrodes 620, but the inventive concept is not limited thereto.The touch panel controller 200 may select the transmitting electrodesTXE and the receiving electrodes RXE from among the first sensorelectrodes 610.

In the description below, an example of removing the first noise signalVDN and the second noise signal VTN by the touch panel controller 200will be described in greater detail with reference to FIG. 7 .

In FIG. 7 , only five first sensor electrodes 711 to 715 included in atouch panel 700 are illustrated for ease of description.

Referring to FIG. 7 , the touch panel controller 200 may select a 1stfirst sensor electrode 711 as a first transmitting electrode TXE+, andmay select a 5th first sensor electrode 715 as a second transmittingelectrode TXE−. Additionally, the touch panel controller 200 may selecta 2nd first sensor electrode 712 as a first receiving electrode RXE+,and may select a 4th first sensor electrode 714 as a second receivingelectrode RXE−. The touch panel controller 200 may float a 3rd firstsensor electrode 713 and may select the 3rd first sensor electrode 713as a shielding electrode.

The touch panel controller 200 may input the first driving signal IN1 tothe first transmitting electrode TXE+, and may input the second drivingsignal IN2 having a magnitude the same as a magnitude of the firstdriving signal IN1 and having a phase different from a phase of thefirst driving signal INT1 by 180 degrees. In this case, the mutualcapacitance CM may be formed between the first transmitting electrodeTXE+ and the first receiving electrode RXE+, and a current path may beformed through the mutual capacitance CM. The mutual capacitance CM mayalso be formed between the second transmitting electrode TXE− and thesecond receiving electrode RXE−, and a current path may be formedthrough the mutual capacitance CM.

The first sensor electrodes 711 to 715 may have substantially the samearea and substantially the same length. Accordingly, when an error inprocess is not considered, first parasitic capacitances C_(S) formed ineach of the receiving electrodes RXE+ and RXE− may be substantially thesame, and second parasitic capacitances C_(D) formed in each of thetransmitting electrodes TXE+ and TXE− may be substantially the same.

Noise flowing into a common electrode of the display panel from thefirst transmitting electrode TXE+ may be C_(D)×V_(TX), and noise flowinginto a common electrode of the display panel from the secondtransmitting electrode TXE− may be −C_(D)×V_(TX). Thus, the noises maybe offset by each other and may be removed.

A first sensing signal OUT1 output from the first receiving electrodeRXE+ may be represented by Equation 1 below.OUT1=ΔC _(M) V _(TX) +C _(S) V _(DN)  [Equation 1]

In Equation 1, “V_(DN)” may refer to display noise generated between thereceiving electrode RXE+ and the common electrode of the display panel.

A second sensing signal OUT2 output from the second receiving electrodeRXE− may be represented by Equation 2 below.OUT2=−ΔC _(M) V _(TX) +C _(S) V _(DN)  [Equation 2]

In Equation 2, “V_(DN)” may refer to display noise generated between thereceiving electrode RXE− and the common electrode of the display panel.

The touch panel controller 200 may differentiate the second sensingsignal OUT2 from the first sensing signal OUT1, thus generating a finalsensing signal OUT used for detecting a user input. Accordingly, thefinal sensing signal OUT may be represented by Equation 3 below.OUT=OUT1−OUT2=(ΔC _(M) V _(TX) +C _(S) V _(DN))−(−ΔC _(M) V _(TX) +C_(S) V _(DN))=2ΔC _(M) V _(TM)  [Equation 3]

Referring to Equation 3, the display noises V_(DN) may be offset by eachother and may be removed. Additionally, a magnitude of the final sensingsignal OUT may increase by twice the magnitudes of the first and secondsensing signals OUT1 and OUT2.

Consequently, the touch panel controller 200 in the present exemplaryembodiment may configure the transmitting electrodes TXE+ and TXE− as apair of transmitting electrodes in which signals having a phasedifference of 180 degrees therebetween are input, respectively, mayselect the receiving electrodes RXE+ and RXE− to be disposed in parallelto the transmitting electrodes TXE+ and TXE−, and may perform adifferential calculation with respect to the first and second sensingsignals OUT1 and OUT2 output from the receiving electrodes RXE+ andRXE−, respectively As such, all noise elements caused by mutualinterference between the touch panel 600 and the display panel may beremoved. Thus, without considering noise elements, the touch panelcontroller 200 may increase a magnitude V_(TX) of the driving signalsIN1 and IN2, and accordingly, sensing sensitivity and image quality ofthe display panel may improve.

Additionally, the touch panel controller 200 in the present exemplaryembodiment may increase a magnitude of the final sensing signal OUT totwice the magnitude of each of the first and second sensing signals OUT1and OUT2. Accordingly, the touch panel controller 200 may decrease thenumber of sensor lines required for detecting a user input in the samesize of a sensing area, thus reducing power consumption.

FIGS. 8A to 8C are diagrams illustrating an effect of reducing thenumber of driving channels of a touch panel controller according toexemplary embodiments of the present inventive concept.

In the exemplary embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 8A to 8C, the sensingareas SA may have substantially the same area.

Referring to FIG. 8A, when a sensing device operates in the first mode,five transmitting lines TXE (selected from second sensor electrodes 820)respectively connected to transmitters TX and three receiving lines RXE(selected from first sensor electrodes 810) respectively connected toreceivers RX may perform a sensing operation based on amutual-capacitance method, in the sensing area SA.

Referring to FIG. 8B, when the sensing device operates in the firstmode, five receiving lines RXE respectively connected to receivers RXmay perform a sensing operation based on a self-capacitance method, inthe sensing area SA.

Referring to FIG. 8C, different from the aforementioned exemplaryembodiments, when the sensing device operates in the second mode or thethird mode, two transmitting lines TXE+ and TXE− respectively connectedto transmitters TX+ and TX− and two receiving lines RXE+ and RXE−respectively connected to receivers RX+ and RX− may perform a sensingoperation based on the mutual-capacitance method, in the sensing areaSA.

As described above, the touch panel controller 200 in the presentexemplary embodiment may sense the sensing area SA having thesubstantially the same size while using a reduced number of sensorlines, thus reducing power consumption.

In the description below, one or more modified exemplary embodiments ofdriving a touch panel with a touch panel controller will be describedwith reference to FIGS. 9 and 10 .

FIGS. 9 and 10 are diagrams illustrating a method of driving a touchpanel with a touch panel controller according to exemplary embodimentsof the present inventive concept.

Referring to FIG. 9 , a sensing device may include the touch panelcontroller 200 and a touch panel 900 including first sensor electrodes910 and second sensor electrodes 920. When the sensing device operatesin the second mode or the third mode, the touch panel controller 200 mayselect a 2nd second sensor electrode 922 of the second sensor electrodes920 of the touch panel 900 as a first transmitting electrode TXE+connected to a first transmitter TX+, and may select an n−1st secondsensor electrode 928 of the second sensor electrodes 920 as a secondtransmitting electrode TXE− connected to a second transmitter TX−.

The touch panel controller 200 may select 1st and 3rd second sensorelectrodes 921 and 923 adjacent to the first transmitting electrode TXE+(the 2nd second sensor electrode 922) as first receiving electrodes RXE+respectively connected to first receivers RX+. Each of the firstreceiving electrodes RXE+ may form the mutual capacitance C_(M) with thefirst transmitting electrode TXE+. Additionally, the touch panelcontroller 200 may select n−2nd and nth sensor electrodes 927 and 929adjacent to the second transmitting electrode TXE− (the n−1st secondsensor electrode 928) as second receiving electrodes RXE− respectivelyconnected to second receivers RX−. Each of the second receivingelectrodes RXE− may form the mutual capacitance CM with the secondtransmitting electrode TXE−.

When a gap between the first transmitting electrode TXE+ and the secondtransmitting electrode TXE− is relatively large as illustrated in FIG. 9, the touch panel controller 200 may not select a shielding electrode.

Thus, when only detecting whether a user input occurs, a minimum numberof sensor electrodes may be driven using the driving method illustratedin FIG. 9 . Accordingly, power consumption may be reduced, and a userinput may be detected instantly.

Referring to FIG. 10 , a sensing device may include the touch panelcontroller 200 and a touch panel 1000 including first sensor electrodes1010 and second sensor electrodes 1020. When the sensing device operatesin the second mode or the third mode, the touch panel controller 200 mayselect a 1st second sensor electrode 1021 of the second sensorelectrodes 1020 of the touch panel 1000 as a first transmittingelectrode TXE+ connected to a first transmitter TX+, and may select a7th second sensor electrode 1027 of the second sensor electrodes 1020 asa second transmitting electrode TXE− connected to a second transmitterTX−. Accordingly, the 1st second sensor electrode 1021 and the 7thsecond sensor electrode 1027 may be configured as a pair of transmittingelectrodes TXE+ and TXE−.

The touch panel controller 200 may select 2nd and 3rd second sensorelectrodes 1022 and 1023 as first receiving electrodes RXE+ respectivelyconnected to first receivers RX+, and forming the mutual capacitanceC_(M) with the first transmitting electrode TXE+ (the 1st second sensorelectrode 1021). Additionally, the touch panel controller 200 may select5th, 6th, 8th, and 9th second sensor electrodes 1025, 1026, 1028, and1029 as second receiving electrodes RXE− respectively connected tosecond receivers RX−, and forming the mutual capacitance C_(M) with thesecond transmitting electrode TXE− (the 7th second sensor electrode1027).

Using the above-described method, the touch panel controller 200 mayinclude the plurality of receiving electrodes RXE+ and RXE−, thusincreasing a magnitude of a sensing signal. Thus, using the drivingmethod illustrated in FIG. 10 , a user input may be detected whilesignificantly reducing an effect from noise and increasing sensingsensitivity.

FIGS. 11 to 13 are diagrams illustrating a method of driving a touchpanel with a touch panel controller according to exemplary embodimentsof the present inventive concept.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a method of driving a touch panel 1100when a sensing device operates in the first mode, and FIGS. 12 and 13are diagrams illustrating a method of driving touch panels 1200 and 1300when the sensing device operates in the second mode and the third mode.In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 11 to 13 , the sensingdevice may perform a sensing operation based on a self-capacitancemethod.

Referring to FIG. 11 , the touch panel 1100 may include first sensorelectrodes 1110 and second sensor electrodes 1120. When the sensingdevice operates in the first mode, the touch panel controller 200 mayselect the second sensor electrodes 1120 as receiving electrodes RXErespectively connected to receivers RX.

The touch panel controller 200 may receive an electrical signal outputfrom the receiving electrodes RXE and may detect whether a user inputoccurs and a position (a coordinate value) in which the user inputoccurs.

Referring to FIG. 12 , when the sending device operates in the secondmode or the third mode, the touch panel controller 200 may select atleast a pair of receiving electrodes RXE+ and RXE− from among firstsensor electrodes 1210 of the touch panel 1200. Each pair of thereceiving electrodes RXE+ and RXE− may include a first receivingelectrode RXE+ outputting first sensing signals OUT2 and OUT4 through afirst receiver RX+ and a second receiving electrode RXE− outputtingsecond sensing signals OUT1 and OUT3 through a second receiver RX−. Thefirst sensing signals OUT2 and OUT4 may correspond to a change in afirst self capacitance produced by the first receiving electrode RXE+.The second sensing signals OUT1 and OUT3 may correspond to a change in asecond self capacitance produced by the second receiving electrode RXE−.The first sensing signals OUT2 and OUT4 and the second sensing signalsOUT1 and OUT3 may have the same magnitude V_(sig), and may have a phasedifference of 180 degrees therebetween. The user input may be detectedby using a summation signal of the first sensing signals OUT2 and OUT4and the second sensing signals OUT1 and OUT3.

At least one sensor electrode may be disposed between the firstreceiving electrode RXE+ and the second receiving electrode RXE−. Thetouch panel controller 200 may select at least one of the at least onesensor electrode disposed between the first receiving electrode RXE+ andthe second receiving electrode RXE− as a shielding electrode. In anexemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept, the touch panelcontroller 200 may connect one of the at least one sensor electrodedisposed between the first receiving electrode RXE+ and the secondreceiving electrode RXE− adjacent to each other to a ground power, ormay float it, to configure the shielding electrode.

Alternatively, the touch panel controller 200 may select second sensorelectrodes orthogonal to the first sensor electrodes 1210 as thereceiving electrodes RXE respectively connected to receivers RX.

Referring to FIG. 13 , when the sensing device operates in the secondmode or the third mode, the touch panel controller 200 may select atleast a pair of the receiving electrodes RXE+ and RXE− from among firstsensor electrodes 1310 of the touch panel 1300. Each pair of thereceiving electrodes RXE+ and RXE− may include a plurality of firstreceiving electrodes RXE+ and a plurality of second receiving electrodesRXE−.

The first receiving electrodes RXE+ may output first sensing signalsOUT3, OUT4, OUT7, and OUT8 through receivers RX+. The second receivingelectrodes RXE− may output second sensing signals OUT1, OUT2, OUT5, andOUT6 through receivers RX−. The first sensing signals OUT3, OUT4, OUT7,and OUT8 and the second sensing signals OUT1, OUT2, OUT5, and OUT6 mayhave the same magnitude V_(sig), and may have a phase difference of 180degrees therebetween.

At least one sensor electrode may be disposed between the firstreceiving electrodes RXE+ and the second receiving electrodes RXE− ineach pair of the receiving electrodes. The touch panel controller 200may select at least one of the at least one sensor electrode as ashielding electrode. As the shielding electrode is connected to a groundpower or floats, the shielding electrode may remove interference betweenthe first receiving electrodes RXE+ and the second receiving electrodesRXE−.

Alternatively, the touch panel controller 200 may select second sensorelectrodes orthogonal to the first sensor electrodes 1310 as thereceiving electrodes RXE.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram illustrating an electronic device including asensing device according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentinventive concept.

Referring to FIG. 14 , an electronic device 1400 may include a displaydevice 1410, an input and output device 1420, a memory 1430, a processor1440, a port 1450, and the like. For example, the electronic device 1400may further include a wired and wireless communication device, a powerdevice, or the like. Among the elements illustrated in FIG. 14 , theport 1450 may be implemented as a device provided for the electronicdevice 1400 to communicate with a video card, a sound card, a memorycard, or the like. The electronic device 1400 may include a generaldesktop computer and a laptop computer, and may also include asmartphone, a tablet personal computer (PC), a smart wearable device, orthe like.

The processor 1440 may perform a certain calculation and may process acommand word, a task, or the like. The processor 1440 may be implementedas a central processing unit (CPU), a microcontroller unit (MCU), asystem-on-chip (SoC), or the like, and may communicate with the displaydevice 1410, the input and output device 1420, and the memory 1430, aswell as other devices connected to the port 1450, through a bus 1460.The processor 1440 may be integrated with the processor 230 of thedisplay device described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 13 .

The memory 1430 may be implemented as a storage medium storing datarequired for operation of the electronic device 1400, multimedia data,or the like. The memory 1430 may include a volatile memory, or anon-volatile memory such as a flash memory or the like. The memory 1430may also include at least one of a solid state drive (SSD), a hard diskdrive (HDD), and an optical disk drive (ODD) as a storage device. Theinput and output device 1420 may include an input device such as akeyboard, a mouse, a touchscreen, or the like, provided to a user, andan output device such as a display, an audio output unit, or the like.

The display device 1410 may be connected to the processor 1440 by thebus 1460 or another communication means. The display device 1410 may beimplemented in the electronic device 1400 according to theaforementioned exemplary embodiments described with reference to FIGS. 1to 13 .

According to the aforementioned exemplary embodiments of the presentinventive concept, the touch panel controller of the sensing device mayremove noise signals flowing into the touch panel from the displaypanel, thus improving sensing sensitivity.

The touch panel controller may improve sensing sensitivity in relationto an object having the same area. The touch panel controller may alsoremove noise signals flowing into the display panel from the touchpanel, thus improving image quality of the display panel.

The sensing device may decrease the number of sensor electrodes fordetecting a user input, thus significantly reducing power consumption.The sensing device may also drive a minimal number of sensor electrodesand may swiftly detect whether a user input occurs.

While the present inventive concept has been shown and described withreference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be apparent to thoseof ordinary skill in the art that modifications and variations in formand details could be made thereto without departing from the spirit andscope of the present inventive concept as set forth by the appendedclaims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A sensing device, comprising: a plurality offirst electrodes configured to receive a first driving signal and aplurality of second electrodes configured to receive a second drivingsignal, the plurality of first electrodes and the plurality of secondelectrodes are arranged alternately; a plurality of third electrodesdisposed between each of the plurality of first electrodes and theplurality of second electrodes, and extending in a direction that is thesame as directions of the plurality of first electrodes and theplurality of second electrodes; an electric charge amplifier configuredto output a first voltage signal corresponding to a change incapacitance between each of the plurality of first electrodes and atleast one of the plurality of third electrodes adjacent to each of theplurality of first electrodes, and outputs a second voltage signalcorresponding to a change in capacitance between each of the pluralityof second electrodes and at least one of the plurality of thirdelectrodes adjacent to each of the plurality of second electrodes; aprocessor configured to detect a user input using the first voltagesignal and the second voltage signal; and at least one fourth electrodedisposed between the plurality of third electrodes and between at leastone of the plurality of first electrodes and at least one of theplurality of second electrodes, wherein the first driving signal and thesecond driving signal have a phase difference of 180 degreestherebetween for offsetting noises flowing into a common electrode of adisplay panel from the plurality of first electrodes and the pluralityof second electrodes.
 2. The sensing device of claim 1, wherein the atleast one fourth electrode shields the at least one of the plurality offirst electrodes and the at least one of the plurality of secondelectrodes, disposed nearby the at least one fourth electrode,respectively.
 3. The sensing device of claim 1, wherein some of theplurality of third electrodes are disposed adjacent to both sides of atleast some of the plurality of first electrodes and the plurality ofsecond electrodes.
 4. The sensing device of claim 3, wherein each ofthird electrodes disposed adjacent to both sides of at least some of theplurality of first electrodes and the plurality of second electrodesoutput a first sensing signal and a second sensing signal respectively,having a phase difference of 180 degrees therebetween.
 5. The sensingdevice of claim 3, wherein each of third electrodes disposed adjacent toboth sides of at least some of the plurality of first electrodes and theplurality of second electrodes output a sensing signal respectively,having a same phase.
 6. The sensing device of claim 3, wherein a numberof third electrodes forming mutual capacitance with each of theplurality of first electrode is the same as a number of third electrodesforming mutual capacitance with each of the plurality of secondelectrode.
 7. The sensing device of claim 3, wherein one of theplurality of third electrodes is further disposed on one side of each ofthird electrodes disposed adjacent to both sides of at least some of theplurality of first electrodes and the plurality of second electrodes. 8.The sensing device of claim 7, wherein sensing signals, output from apair of the plurality of third electrodes disposed side by side, aresummed and output.
 9. The sensing device of claim 1, wherein each offirst parasitic capacitances generated between a common electrode ofdisplay panel and each of the plurality of first and second electrodesis the same as each other, each of second parasitic capacitancesgenerated between the common electrode of display panel and each of theplurality of third electrodes is the same as each other.